Cycling Bottom to Top

In June this year, Jo Barnett ( Mary and Hugh's mum) will be cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for the school. You can sponsor her by calling in to school or by downloading the sponsor form from the Friends of Staveley School website. www.friendsofstaveleyschool.co.uk Individuals or businesses can buy each mile that she will ride. Please support this great adventure.

We will be tracking Jo's progress on a daily basis and showing her route on this web page. Check in each day for an update.

The above map represents the general route taken by Jo. it is not intended to show particular roads or stop off points. Each day during the ride we will move the arrow to show where Jo has reached.

Bottom to Top Blog

FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jo has completed the ride and is now back with us in Staveley.

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Day 10 Saturday 19th June

Heather (Richard-from-Class5's Mum) and I started off after the usual excellent cooked breakfast, leaving Forsinard Station  B&B 'where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House' just before 9am.  We gradually made our way down hill to the North Scottish coast against a pretty savage north wind, we thought 10mph seemed fast.  Wild open space around us with nothing but the nodding cotton grass, stunning though and our first visit to the Flow Country.

20 miles or so brought our first view of the North Sea, and the reassurance of the nearness of civilisation (caravans on the road).  We turned eastwards and the wind now was from the side and suddenly we were making much greater progress.  Gentle climbs and descents along the cliff tops (Sandside Bay and Dounreay nuclear power station and the Bridge of Forss) before a great sweeping descent into Thurso - wow 30mph! I have to admit my legs had developed the attitude that if it was possible to freewheel that was fine with them! We passed a pet rehoming centre, Heather did remark where exactly were the homes for rehoming as we hadn't seen that many, but once in Thurso we were spoiled for choices of places to stop for lunch. We headed for a bistro and I was pleased to have my first hot meal (not a breakfast) for 3 days.

A gentle climb out of Thurso took us to the windswept Dunnet Bay and then across the cliff tops to John O'Groats, almost too quickly!  We cycled until we ran out of land about 2.30pm and then stopped for photos, a pot of tea and a bit of shopping (well we are women!).  Apparently Jan De Groots was the the first ferryman for the Orkney ferry which cost 4d (which became 'a groat'). Heather found her car and then her car keys and we loaded up our bikes and headed south for Inverness where we hoped to meet up with Simon, Richard's Dad who had just started his John O'Groats to Land's End ride, having driven up the night before.

As we drove south along the A9 we thought, although our route was further, it was a more interesting way to reach John O'Groats, and on this occasion meant we avoided a head wind to finish.

We caught up with Simon on the outskirts of Inverness, pizza followed and Heather kindly drove all the way home over night, and we were back about 4am. A BIG thank you for driving Heather!

So some ride info - about 1065 miles in total (from memory)

9th June Penzance to Land's End to Hayle (36 miles)

10th June to Launceston (76 miles)

11th June  to Battleborough, A38 south west of Bristol (102 miles)

12th June to Whitney on Wye, north east of Hay on Wye (104)

13th June to Birkenhead (130 miles)

14th June to High Borrans, Cumbria (100 miles)

15th June to Sanquhar (111 miles)

16th June to north of Lochgilphead (104 miles)

17th June to Drumnadrochit (132 miles)

18th June to Forsinard Station, Flow Country (110 miles)

19th June John O'Groats (50 miles)

Up to end of June 17th I averaged a ride time of 13.5 mile an hour, although the last bit brought this down to 12.7 mph, but I tended to think of with breaks, an average of 10mph which seemed remarkably accurate.

A bit of technical data for those who might be interested bike is a Litespeed Siena with a 50/34 on the front and a 27 block on the back and these gears got me up most hills, I walked up a couple of short steep pulls in Herefordshire, quite a lot of Glen Sannox on Arran and a steep section somewhere south of Oban.  It isn't a touring bike and at times it was getting to my back and hands.  My right little finger became numb and hands were sore from holding onto the relatively thin handlebars. I wore out a set of brand new cleats for Look pedals, and these are certainly not the best footwear for walking on and off the metal gangways of ferries and laminate flooring in cafes.

It is a great experience travelling through our country, people are incredibly friendly and helpful, the scenery is constantly changing as is the architecture and infrastructure. I took a cut down version of my sponsor form with me and I could tick off the different miles people had sponsored me and it was interesting thinking about all the different reasons people had given me for the miles they had chosen.  I did have a lot of time to think as I was cycling/travelling for about 11-12 hours most days.  Although the wind was quite a feature, the sun shone and it was dry apart from the miles around Chester.

So now I am gathering sponsorship and am hoping to collect most of it in by 2nd July ready for the prize draw at the Staveley School Fair.  Thank you to all the parents and staff from Staveley School, my family and friends, colleagues from the outdoor education world especially High Borrans OEC, the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centre and the English Outdoor Council, local businesses including Wheelbase, Windermere Canoe Kayak, Cyclewise, North Face, Windermere Ice Cream Co.  Aiguille, Myrtle and Mace, Stuart Sports, CEM, Lou B Lou's, Mitchenson's Garage and Staveley Parish Council for all of your generous support; that £1,000 looks likely. 

And finally thanks to Des for holding the family for for nearly 2 weeks.

That's it from me, but watch this space for news on how we invest the money raised for outdoor learning at Staveley School.

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Day 8 June 17  Thursday

 The day that makes all the effort worthwhile;   warm, sunny but not too sunny, beautiful varying scenery (hills, lochs and mountains), a tail wind, smooth tarmac, courteous traffic...   An interesting hilly run up to Oban (coffee and cream scone and phone chat with my mum, well it is my birthday!), then around the coast to Fort William. I saw my first seals - albeit oversized plastic models outside the Sea Life Centre! I have never seen Glen Coe look so magnificent, totally clear in glorious sunshine.  Then a coffee break in Nevis Sport, never been to Fort William in the dry before. Onwards to Fort Augustus and Dromnedrochit, 132 miles in total (pretty tired at the end). My right leg needed a bit of help on the hills from my right arm by pushing down to avoid strain, my right little finger is a bit numb, and I have blisters on the side of my hand from the handle bars - otherwise I am fine! Oh I have had sun burnt lips despite sun screen, but the bit of cloud today has stopped me resembling Clinton Eastwood in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!  The climb out of Fort William gave magnificent views of Ben Nevis and past the Commando monument.  As I came out of the trees and flowering rhodedendrons the sun on Loch Lochy was breathtakingly beautiful. (I did wonder why this Loch doesn't seem to deserve a more imaginative name!).  I kept an eye out Nessie, apparently the evening is a good time to spot Loch Ness Monsters - was that the shadow of a pleisiosaur or was it simply a trick of the light? As my camera wasn't working I have done the next best thing, bought some postcards and photographed them! Working now for t.ommorrow Tomorrow I hope to meet with Heather Milligan in the Flow Country and we will finish, all being well, together on Saturday. My old friend the northerly wind is back but still dry. 

 Jo

Due to some camera problems in the day, the pictures below are from postcards photographed by phone camera.

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16th June

Day started  on a back road with warm sunshine and views across the Nith Valley, ponies and sheep still asleep dozing in the sun. The A76 then took me closer to Arran, but then it was onto some b roads that wove their way up to Irvine, past Dondonald Castle. A bit tricky through the towns and finally I ran out of land at Ardrossan. Unfortunately I left my phone and lost the camera after this, and somehow I had reset my cycle computer accidently, and now instead of 700 miles or so it said 10! And I had  missed the midday ferry, and had to wait till 3pm for the next one. So I sat on the dock of the bay, resting in the sunshine and had some lunch. Then over to Arran and I had to cycle round the west side as the road across the middle was closed.  That might not have been a bad thing because after a delightful ride along the shore I turned up hill at Glen Sannox and into the wind it was like going through a Dyson hand drier! Last ferry across to the mainland and it felt in the middle nowhere and my right knee was feeling sore, but Tarrbet was soon reached , Des had found me some accommodation north of Lochgilphead.  20 miles to go so I refilled my drinks bottles, bought some Haribos, put on the Happy Mondays and cycled through the evening sunshine. 730 done as read off sponsor sheet. 

Jo

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15th June

	The day began with taking Hugh and Mary to school and then I took my bike to Wheelbase to finally sort out problems left over from earlier in the trip.  Thanks to James and his team for sorting it straight away.
A cup of coffee later and I set off a bit late at 11am, waved off by Katie W. Who was up at High Borrans gardening, Standard and Claire, two of the High Borrans team.  I put on the MP 3 player to replace conversation with Andy and headed up the Kirkstone Pass to the melodic tunes of the Fleet Foxes.
	Beautiful through the fells, the wind was hardly noticeable, the sun shone and the views stunning. Down to Ullswater and then up Dockray to the A66. Straight across and round the eastern edge of Blencathra through buttercups and mayflower.mayflower. High Borrans rhubarb and ginger flapjack kept me going until Longtown, where a late lunch prepared me for a left turn into the wind and Dumfries.
I then turned north west and followed A76 & the River Nith to Sanquhar, over some pretty big hills. I finished the day looking down in to the river as the road follows close to the bank and even over the bank. Ten miles further than I thought (and they would have to be hilly ones!).  Looking forward to Aran today, a great bit of the route.  Jo

Mon 14th June

We started the day with the Mersey ferry, once we had found the right one! Poor Birkenhead, Liverpool has all the gloss.  We cycled through the old docks, before striking north into the most horrendous headwinds.  A definite low point at Southport, it was just such hard work to anywhere.  We stopped at a huge garden centre for a break, (one thing I have noticed is just how many garden centres there are!).
	We followed main roads to Preston, luckily there were cycle paths then back onto original route at Dribble Cycles. Some lovely back roads past canals and barges (usually covered in flowers) to Garstang for a late lunch. It is an amazing contrast to go through towns after rural back roads, our country is so varied in a short distance, it makes cycling   so interesting.
Back into the northerly winds and sunshine and on to Lancaster where Hugh and Mary were born. Finally I had that ice cream in Milnthorpe, before the final push to home. Seeing my local area with fresh eyes it all looked very beautiful in the early evening sunshine, and all the gardens in flower. Through Staveley and up the hill to High Borrans where Mary and her Daddy met us and we all walked the last bit home.

   Now its the hard bit, leaving home to do it all again - and now on my own as Andy has had to change plans and go home to Sheffield. 

Jo

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13th June

We started out from Whitney in Wye in lovely sunshine  and spent the morning navigating back lanes through very English countryside. Beautiful timber frame houses with clay tile rooves with cottage gardens and pony paddocks. One lovely village after another  The cycling was pretty gentle, cleverly picking a route through the hills and we made good time and stopped in Bishop's Castle for coffee and carrot cake.   However we have to be honest and decided to take a short cut and miss out the Stiperstones  (sorry John and Fern!) and take the main roadroad, A488 rejoining our route at Ploxgreen, the back lanes are good fun but do take more time.  Can recommend this bit of A road, a steady climb followed by fast and long descent.

After this followed lanes to Knockin, where we had lunch and watched the rain bucketing down. On went the waterproofs for the rest of the day.   We carried on through Cheshire, too fiddly and track-like in places for me.  The north wind was back and made it  really hard going after this. Still we made it to Birkenhead, via Chester, but too late for the ferry. Tired, cold  and wet we rang home and the support team looked up accommodation and found the only hotel in town. 130 miles all in all today, legs are fine it's backs, wrists and necks that are feeling it, not to mention backsides!   Tomorrow we get on to more familiar roads, it will be that head wind is the key factor.   Just a couple of photos today as were too busy cycling and I had to wrap it up to keep it dry!   Jo

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Saturday 12th June

A day of sunshine, and of course, the northerly head wind. We are concerned that we are getting VCLs (visible cycling lines), I even have one on my wrist from my gloves, strange white hands on the end of brown arm which goes white again before my shoulder.  We cycled over the Mendips before breakfast, and around the coast before searching out the cycle way on the Avonmouth bridge (next to M5), pretty well hidden.
	Bristol was fine and we were soon picking our way round the north east corner to our next bridge, the Severn Bridge, 2 miles across and about 130m high, very impressive and being on a bike you can stop and look at these things. Great ride to the 13th Century abbey at Tintern, where we stopped foe lunch.  At Monmouth we picked up a tiny back road heading north, a real highlight, following the River Monnow, under green arches of trees and amongst butterflies.
We stoppedfor a quick look at the castle at Skenfrith, all the time crisis crossing the English-Welsh border. Don't tell Hugh but we did walk our first hill, at Grosmont, Hugh said we had to go back to the beginning if we did this! No chance! We can report that thwarted Golden Valley is golden, and we finished just over the 100 miles at Whitney on Wye.

Tomorrow is ice cream day, even if it rains, and well all those who did the Sam Haughton ride today; Jack, Hugh, Sam and Eva I think. 

 Jo

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June 11th

 Hi everyone, Well it's certainly been a full day, a tour of lanes and A roads, countryside and towns, hilly and flat, windy and windy, and A good look at cycle repair facilities! Good news with the assistance of IT expertise from North Tyneside Council I have my camera working again. So we left Launceston this morning, getting lost straight away! However back en route we followed a delightful route, a town every 20 miles, lots of uphill and downhill which gradually became more a bit easier.  Sun shone all day and we were more sheltered from the head winds, although I think we had just become use to them! The morning went steadily away until I noticed my rear gear cable was being bent and worn by my handle bar bag, this was initially sorted in Wellington, only to create a second problem with my chain jamming in Taunton.  Thank you, Arthur, a kind passing cyclist who took us to The Bicycle Chain who sorted everything out once and for all   By now it is 5.45pm, so we got on with heading up the A38, we are now half way between Bridgewater and Weston super Mere where the A38 crosses the M5.  Still 200miles on the clock and Bristol tomorrow, with best weather yet although still northerly headwinds!  

Jo

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Friday 11th

A day of up and downs, with a never ending head wind. We followed the coast faithfully to Padstow where we caught the little ferry over to Rock, then it was up to about 320m above sea level on Bodmin Moor.  We then dropped down to Launceston on the Cornish border. We finished the day 20miles early as the wind was getting even stronger and we had to find accommodation.

 It was a real Cornish day and the views were great, lots of coves, beaches and cliff tops. we could still hear the skylarks over the roar of the wind. I gave a baby badger a push to safety.  It was stuck on the side of the road trying to climb the granite rock 'hedge'. We saw surfers and a lot of holiday makers. And we met  Anne Salisbury who lives in Staveley in a cafe in Padstow! Sadly my phone camera has stopped working so only one picture, taken for James in class 2! We have a digital camera as well so there will be more photos eventually. Tomorrow we cross Devon, more hills but hopefully the wind will have at least dropped if not changed direction.tops. We have a supply of clotted cream fudge to keep us going! 

 Jo

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Wednesday 9th 2010:

Dear All, Hugh, Mary with Tommy and Pickle, the hamsters, waved me off this morning. Drove to Penzance collectings Andy on the way. 5.30pm Cycled from Penzance to L' End, sunny and dry. Australian tourists took photo.C Then around north coast passing the tin mines to St Ives then on to Hayle, arriving at B&B for 8.30pm. Tommorrow following coast before heading in land towards Launceston.forecast Head winds forecast and some rain. Lakeland have sponsored 50 miles so bringing the total to £950, sending cheque to school. Bye for now, Jo